Cŏm'pa-tēr'ni-ty, n.

n. [L. Lat. compaternitas, from compater, godfather, from com, for con, and pater, father. Cf. Ger. gevatter, godfather, from ge, equivalent to Lat. cum, and vater, equivalent to Lat. pater.] The relation of a godfather to a person. [Obs.]

The relation of gossiped and compaternity by the canon law is a spiritual affinity. Davies.